Door latch



H. W. FALK Dec. 6, 1955 DOOR LATCH 2 Sheets-Shae t Filed June 30, 1951 INVENTOR Harold Wa/zer Fa/lt BY 'B g ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1955 H. w. FALK 2,726,108

DOOR LATCH Filed June 30, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hare/d Walzer' F'a/rt ATTORNEY nited States Patent DOOR LATCH Harold Walter Falk, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Wright Products, Inc., St. Paul Park, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application June 30, 1951, Serial No. 234,631

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-106) This invention relates to door latches and pertains more particularly to an improved lock therefor.

Recently door latches having an oscillatory handle have met with public acclaim. The handle is of the type extending on opposite sides of the door, being operable from one side by a pulling motion and on the other side by a pushing action. It is in conjunction with this type of latch that my locking arrangement will find especial utility.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a simple and inexpensive lock for a latch of the foregoing character. 7

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of parts so shaped and positioned as to result in neglible wear. It is also within the contemplation of the invention to arrange the parts constituting the. locking feature so that even should wear eventually occur after an extended period of use, the operation of the lock will not be adversely affected thereby. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a lock capable of withstanding a long period of service. 7

Another object is to provide a lock that will be little affected by weather conditions when subjected to outdoor use. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch that will be practically tamper proof.

A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a spring biased catch bar for the latch that will permit relaxation of manufacturing tolerances, yet still result in a practically rattle-free latch.

An additional object of the invention resides in the use of a friction element which is carried by the locking member to assure against accidental displacement of the locking member from the position into which it has been moved.

Other and further important objects andladvantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings forming a part of the specification, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my latch in use on a door;

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing the internal construction of my latch;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the latch mechanism with the door slightly ajar; v

Figure 4 is an elevational view, the door being. in the position assumed in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing one stage of assembly of the latch;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the escutcheon plates with the locking mechanism depicted in locked position; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 with thelocking mechanism being in unlocked position.

Referring now to the drawings, the door latch A includes a generally U-shaped handle 10 consisting of a central keeper engaging portion 12 having opposed handle sections 14 and 16 issuing therefrom. The handle end 14 is designed to overlie one surface 18 of the door B and the other handle end 16 is intended to overlie the other side 20 of the door B.

Secured to the surface 18 of the door B by a pair of screws 22 is an escutcheon plate 24, while a second escutcheon plate 26 is similarly attached to the side 20 by another pair of screws 28. These escutcheon plates 24 and 26 are each provided with an aperture 30 and 32, respectively, for the accommodation of the intermediate portion 12 of thevhandle 10. The section of the intermediate portion 12 extending between the plates 24 and 26 resides in an aperture or bore 34 formed in the door B.

The escutcheon plate 24 serves as a base member for carrying the handle 10. As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 6, the plate is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 36 and 38 contained within upturned sleeves 40 and 42, the ends of the sleeves 40 and 42 lying in substantially the same plane as the edge of an upturned flange 44 extending about the periphery of the plate 24.

A channel member 46 includes a bridge element 48, perpendicularly directed side Walls 50 and 52, and ears 54 and 56 issuing outwardly from the channel member side walls. A pair of apertures 58 and 60 in the cars 54 and 56 are in registry with the sleeves 38 and 40, and the ends of the sleeves are *riveted or flared outwardly to secure the parts together, as best seen in Figure 5. A pintle 62 passes through the body of the intermediate portion 12 of the, handle, the ends thereof issuing through a pair of apertures in the side walls 50 and 52, to pivotal- 1y mount the handle 10 for oscillatory movement with respect to the escutcheon plate 24. The exposed ends of the pintle 62 may be conveniently enlarged as by peening or upsetting to'assure retention of the pintle 62in place.

1 Thus it will be seen that the handle 10 can be rocked with respect to the plate 24. Urging the handle into one pivoted position is a compression spring 64 interposed between the intermediate section 12 of the handle and the base portion 48 of the channel 46. Undesired displacement of the spring ends may be prevented by providing the handle with a rounded lug 60 and the channel portion with an indentation 68. As will later become apparent, the spring 64 biases the handle 10 into latched position.

From Figures 6 and 7 it will be seen that a central recess or groove 70 is formed, as by stamping, in the plate 24. Received in the groove 70 is a slidable plate element 72 having a pair of spaced wings 74 and 76 engageable with the sides of the groove, and a bridging portion 78 connecting the wings 74 and 76 together. For a purpose presently to be explained the plane of the bridging portion 78 is raised above the plane of the two wings 74 and 76, the ends of said bridge diverging downwardly into an integral connection with the wings 74 and 76. Thus it will be appreciated that the plate element 72 is in appearance somewhat channel-shaped. The other end of the plate element 24 is punched or cut out at 80, leaving inturned lugs 82 and 84 which embrace the handle portion 12. The shape of the cut out section may correspond generally'to the cross-section of the handle section 12, only a slight clearance therebetween being necessary for the proper actuation of the element 72 by the handle section 12.

Contained in the escutcheon plate 24 near the side opposite the handle is an arcuate slot 86 having a rivet or pin 88 slidably received therein. One end of the rivet 88 is flared outwardly into surface engagement with an apertured locking plate 90. The other end of the rivet constitutes a head embracing a hollowed cap 92 having a coil spring. 94 therein urging the cap 92 away from'the plate to thereby yieldingly bias one side of the locking plate 90 against the escutcheon plate 24. A washer 96 may 3 serve as a bearing for the spring 94 during reciprocation of the rivet 88 back and forth in the slot 86. In this way the locking plate 90 is frictionally retained in the position into which it has been moved. From Figure 6 it will be seen that the ends of the wings 74 and 76 are also arcuate in general conformity with the curvature of the locking plate 90, the locking plate in turn preferably having assumed the general curvature of the segment of the peripheral flange 44 falling in that region.

As hereinbefore indicated, the bridge portion 78 of the plate element 72 resides in a plane displaced from the plane of the wings 74 and 76. The purpose in off-setting the bridging portion 78 is to provide clearance for the locking plate 90 when the locking plate is moved to the right end of the slot 86, as will be seen from Figure 7. In this position the plate 72 is free to move into an overlapping relationship with the locking plate 90, the locking plate being then accommodated within the space formed under the raised bridge portion 78. To assure clearance between the bridge portion and the end of the rivet 88 when in the aforesaid position, a semi-circular section may be removed from the bridge portion at 98.

It will be appreciated that the slidable member 78 only loosely embraces the handle portion 12, and that the central bridging portion 48 serves to retain the member properly in the groove 70.

In order to engage a keeper designated generally by the letter C, the handle is notched at 100. The keeper C includes a channeled backing strip 102 to which is riveted a first channeled housing member 104 and a second channeled housing member 106, the housing members having enclosed ends. A catch bar 108 has its ends retained in the housing members 104 and 106, the housing member 106 enclosing a coil spring 110 interposed between the backing strip 102 and the catch bar 108. The keeper C is attached to a door jamb D by means of a pair of screws 112.

From Figure 2 it will be seen that the catch bar 108 is urged into engagement with the intermediate portion 12 of the handle with sufi'icient force to take up any free play present in the parts constituting the latch, such play occurring from the use of large manufacturing tolerances or from wear after the latch has been in use for an appreciable period. iatch is in a completely closed position, but from Figures 3 and 4 it will be determined that the spring biased catch bar 108 effectively prevents rattling before complete closure of the door B in that the outer surface of the handle portion 14 comes against the catch bar 108 in such a manner as to tilt the bar with respect to a true vertical. The tilting of the bar 108, best seen in Figure 4, creates both a lateral and upward force on the handle to take up any looseness or play in the latch parts just prior to complete closing of the door. It will be understood that it is during the door closing stage above mentioned that the most jostling of the latch occurs. Thus the invention contemplates the manufacture of a door latch that can be more inexpensively made by virtue of using larger tolerances, yet which will have the attributes of a more precision made latch.

The latch is operated in a manner believed apparent from the foregoing description. However, it will be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that when the door B is closed the catch bar 108 is resiliently urged into latching relationship with the notch 100 on the handle 10. The door is thus retained closed, but upon exertion of pressure on. the handle portion 14 toward the surface 18 of the door, or by exerting a pull on the handle portion 16 away from the doors other surface 20, the notch 100 becomes disengaged from the catch bar 108 to permit the door to be opened. Subsequent closing of the door causes the curved surface of the handle portion 14 to cam against the catch bar 108 until the notch has been moved into registry therewith, the catch bar then snapping back into engagement with the notch 100.

In the position shown in Figure 2, the

The preceding operation concerns the normal opening and closing of the door B, When it is desired to lock the door closed, the cap 92-is moved from the position shown in Figures 1 and 7 to that shown in Figure 6. This sliding movement results in the locking plate being moved from alignment with the space formed by the raised portion 78 into obstructive alignment with the wing 74. In the new position the end of the wing 74 abuts against the locking plate 90 and accordingly is prevented from being moved in that direction. Since the plate 72 embraces the handle portion 12, the handle 10 cannot be moved with the consequent result that the notch 1G0 remains in locked engagement with the catch bar 108. Movement of the cap 92 in a reverse direction causes the locking plate 90 to be moved back into registry with the spaced formed by the bridging portion 78, thereby permitting the handle 10 to be pivoted and to also allow the door B to be opened.

Thus it will be apparent that I have provided a locking device of a sturdy and simple construction, which can be easily operated from the side of the door for which protection against entry is desired. It should also be noted that the latching mechanism is easily atlixed to doors already in use, only the aperture 34 being required in the door for proper mounting of the device. The screws 22, 28 and 112 serve as the securing means.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the structural details thereof, for other arrangements obviously fall within the intended scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a handle extending through said plate, means pivotally supporting said handle of said plate for oscillatory movement with respect to said plate, a plate member slidably supported in surface contact with the plate, said handle engaging said plate for sliding the same in the direction of oscillation of said handle, and a slidable locking element carried by said plate, said locking element being slidable into the path of movement of the slidable plate member to prevent movement of said member and said handle.

2. A door latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a handle extending through said plate, means pivotally supporting said handle on said plate for oscillatory movement with respect to said plate, said plate having an elongated recess extending in the direction of oscillatory movement of said handle, a member provided with a pair of oppositely directed wing sections and a central bridging section connecting said wing sections, the wings being slidably received in said elongated recess in sur face contact with a portion of the mounting plate which defines part of said recess, the central section of said member lying in a place oft-set from the plane of said wings, the plate having a slot adjacent one end of said elongated recess extending substantially at right angles with respect to said elongated recess, and a locking element having a portion thereof slidably received by said slot, the locking element being movable toward one end of the slot into abutting relationship with one wing and movable toward the other end of said slot whcreat said wings will straddle said locking clement, said central bridging section being slidable over said locking element portion in this position.

3. A door latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate having an elongated recess therein, a channel mernber including side walls, a bridging portion connecting said side walls, and oppositely directed ears on said side walls secured to the mounting plate adjacent said recess, and on opposite sidesthereof, one end of the bridging portion overlying the recess, a U-shaped handle extending through said eiongated recess and pivotally carried by the side walls adjacent the other end of the pivotally portion, a plate member slidably received in said recess and retained therein by said overlying end of the bridging portion, a portion of said plate member being cut out for the accommodation of said handle, said handle extending through said cut out portion and engaging portions of said plate adjoining said cut out portion to cause movement of said member upon actuation of said handle, and means carried by said mounting plate for arresting movement of said plate member to thereby prevent actuation of said handle.

4. A door latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a channel member projecting from one side of the plate, said channel member including side walls and a bridge portion connecting with the side walls, a U-shaped handle extending through said mounting plate and pivotally carried by the side walls, a compression spring inter posed between the handle and bridge portion, said spring engaging a portion of said handle located between the mounting plate and pivot of said handle, said spring acting to urge said handle toward one edge of said plate, a slidable member having an opening at one end embracing a portion of the handle, the mounting plate having a shallow channel extending in the direction of handle movement, the shallow channel receiving a portion of said slidable member for guiding the same, said plate being further provided with a slot adjacent the edge opposite said previously mentioned edge and extending substantially normally to said shallow channel, and a locking element having a portion thereof received by said slot, said locking element being slidable into striking engagement with a portion of said slidable member.

5. A door latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a handle, means pivotally supporting said handle on an axis substantially parallel to the plane of said mounting plate for oscillatory movement with respect to said plate, a member slidably associated with the plate, and

movable parallel to the plane of the plate, said member engaging said handle for sliding movement thereby in the direction of oscillation, a slidable locking element carried by said plate, said locking element being slidable into the path of movement of the slidable member to prevent movement of said member and said handle, and friction means mounted on said locking element and engageable with said mounting plate to aid in retaining said locking element in a preferred position.

6. A door latch mechanism comprising a mounting plate, a handle extending through said plate, means pivotally supporting said handle for oscillatory movement with respect to said plate, a member slidably associated with the plate, means supporting said member for sliding movement parallel to the plane of said plate, said member straddling the handle and engaging the same for movement thereby in the direction of oscillation, and a slidable locking element carried by said plate, said locking element being slidable into the path of movement of the slidable member to prevent movement of said member and said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 196,662 Hammond Oct. 30, 1877 471,118 Higgins Mar. 22, 1892 2,045,583 Cook June 30, 1936 2,352,465 Anderson et al June 27, 1944 2,435,180 Ledin Jan. 27, 1948 2,489,078 Cameron Nov. 22, 1949 2,547,108 Anderson Apr. 3, 1951 2,583,391 Quinn Jan. 22, 1952 2,613,971 Goserud Oct. 14, 1952 

